Reports: Reggie Wayne asked for release, couldn't handle "Patriot Way"

As we drew closer to the 4:00 p.m. deadline for roster cuts yesterday, reporters on the beat began to piece together some clues that pointed to the possible release of receiver Reggie Wayne, but not many figured it'd become a reality.

After Wayne wasn't at practice, along with other players such as Jonas Gray and Robert McClain, and then when Wayne wasn't spotted in the locker room following the session, people began to contemplate the possibility that Wayne was in fact on his way out.

And then, Josina Anderson of ESPN broke the word that Wayne wasn't expected to make the 53-man roster, which was followed by ESPN's Adam Scehefter saying that Wayne asked for his release from the team. By the time 4:00 rolled around, Wayne was indeed no longer a member of the Patriots, with head coach Bill Belichick calling the move a "mutual agreement" between the two parties.

Shortly following the official word, both Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweeted that complications in dealing with how the Patriots do business was too much of a burden for Wayne to handle, which led to his release:

From source close to Wayne "asked for release, work environment to tough....not fun"

— Scott Zolak (@scottzolak) September 5, 2015

#Patriots paid Wayne $450k for 11 days of work. I heard he wasn’t fitting in with the “Patriot Way” culture

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 5, 2015

Other reports speculate that Wayne will in fact retire from the game, and he wishes to do so as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and not a New England Patriot.

At the time it's unknown if the Patriots will seek to recoup the $450K signing bonus handed to Wayne when he signed two weeks ago.

Photo Credit: USA Today